Devine Scripture

Mark 4:31

What does Mark 4:31 mean?

A plain-English look at Mark 4:31 in WEB alongside six other public-domain English translations, with cross-references and chapter context.

What Mark 4:31 means

Jesus likened the Kingdom of God to a mustard seed. This seed is remarkably tiny, described as the smallest of all seeds sown on the earth. This powerful image highlights the humble, inconspicuous beginnings of the Kingdom, contrasting its outward appearance at the outset with its eventual destiny. It speaks to the seemingly insignificant start from which great things will grow.

Parallel translations

WEB

World English Bible · 2000

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the earth, though it be less than all the seeds that are upon the earth,

KJV

King James Version · 1611

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:

ASV

American Standard Version · 1901

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown upon the earth, though it be less than all the seeds that are upon the earth,

BBE

Bible in Basic English · 1949

It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is put in the earth, is smaller than all the seeds on the earth,

YLT

Young's Literal Translation · 1862

As a grain of mustard, which, whenever it may be sown on the earth, is less than any of the seeds that are on the earth;

DRA

Douay-Rheims (Challoner) · 1752

It is as a grain of mustard seed: which when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that are in the earth:

DBY

Darby Bible · 1890

As to a grain of mustard [seed], which, when it is sown upon the earth, is less than all seeds which are upon the earth,

Context

This verse begins the Parable of the Mustard Seed, directly answering Jesus' rhetorical question about how to illustrate the Kingdom. It focuses on the initial, almost imperceptible size of the mustard seed, establishing the contrast that will be developed in the next verse. This emphasizes the surprising nature of the Kingdom's origin, which is small and easily overlooked.

v.30And he said, How shall we liken the kingdom of God? or in what parable shall we set it forth?

v.31This passage

v.32yet when it is sown, groweth up, and becometh greater than all the herbs, and putteth out great branches; so that the birds of the heaven can lodge under the shadow thereof.

Cross references

Related passages from across Scripture, drawn from the Treasury of Scripture Knowledge.

  • Acts 5:14

    and believers were the more added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women:

  • Zechariah 8:20

    Thus saith Jehovah of hosts: It shall yet come to pass, that there shall come peoples, and the inhabitants of many cities;

  • Acts 2:41

    They then that received his word were baptized: and there were added unto them in that day about three thousand souls.

  • Isaiah 53:2

    For he grew up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground: he hath no form nor comeliness; and when we see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.

  • Zechariah 14:6

    And it shall come to pass in that day, that there shall not be light; the bright ones shall withdraw themselves:

  • Ezekiel 17:22

    Thus saith the Lord Jehovah: I will also take of the lofty top of the cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the topmost of its young twigs a tender one, and I will plant it upon a high and lofty mountain:

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